Cnderwing fueling nozzle and valve



J. C. CARTE R Sept. 29, 1953 UNDERWING FUELING NOZZLE AND VALVE FOR AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet l- Filed OCT.. 25, 1946 INVENTOR jfl/wf; (50x/asf re ATTORNEYS SepLzQ, 1953 -J. c. CARTER 2,653,832

UNDERWING FUELING NOZZLE.' AND VALVE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed OCT.. 25, 1946 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A v A V y lNvr-:N-roR JAMES fom/D65 (he 75e W11 1 ,KJ/ym- ATTORNEYS J. C. CARTER Sept. 29, 1953 UNDERWING FUELING NOZZLE AND VALVE FOR AIRCRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OCb, 25, 1946 WWAWAA@ INVENTOR 4A/fs (baz/oaf @41eme BY K14-7m- ,L/Wwf- ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1953 2,653,832

UNDERWING FUELING NozzLE AND VALVE FOR AIRCRAFT Filed oct. 25, 1946 J. C. CARTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Slept. 29,

UNITED PATENT orifice atsasz" i NDEWTG UELING Noz'z'Ln vIQv Fon AIRCRAFT .engageait-geahnt, Les maaar-mty; ena;

assignor to The VJ. Cr Carter Company, Pasadena, Calif.,alcorporation.ofCalifox-nia t Abilitante ottone; 25, 194e', geen N55 7051545 12 onine. (cl2 284-18) This invention relates to fueling: nozzles and valves and more particularly tofuelingnozzles and valves adapted for under-wing fueling of aircraft. ,1 With the advent of larger transport aircraftk with fuel capacity of 5,0011gallor'isorI more, ithas' become apparent thatA the speed of .fueling'must be stepped up consistent withsafety' precautions.

Another Object ofgthis 'inventionis'td provide,

such a fueling nozzle andvalve which willy auto matically seal both the fueling hose vand. aircraft tank upon beingdisconnecte'd, s i. j, y

Another object of this'finvention sto provide such a fueling nozzle' and *,valvelwhich Vwillfnot.

allow fuel to flowl until the system'is properly connected to the aircraft tank.`

sun another object of this'invetihis tof vpnl-.

vide a fueling nozzle and valve. of'siinple'fcmpact construction `allclininrnum' weight.

Other and furtherobjects will appear @duringthe course of the lfollczwing ,description when taken with the accornpar'fyin'gA drawings in which:

Fig. l isa4 crossse`;ct i`o11al'viewy of affueling" nozzle and valve embodyingl this invention; .-r,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through vertical plane II-II ofv Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a crosssect'ional viewtakenthroughhorizontal plane III-III of Figl with the nozzle in the operating position;A

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional vview'.taken:.tl'ircnuglr horizontal plane IV`IV of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a developedv View alrigine:iV- wif"off`r ,i

A45'gages a corresponding inlet housing orbayonet Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partially-cutaway"'cdssfsennaif vier;7 of an alternative 'embodiment ofv this invention; and

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view oflanother alten; n y

56""the face of its valve closure member; I9' abuts native embodiment of thisinvention.

The invention lconsists', generally of ya /tankgf valve which is opened bymeans of a 4.nozzle attachment which 11s "aimee to"the,ugunjfueimgj hose and which isv also, provided with avalye, the

opening "of' whichop'ens the tank valve.I This nozzle attachment is a unit which has on it safety means, Whichvprevent leakage or vloss of fuel during fueling operationsA and at -other times. Meansare provided,y on the nozzle unit'r for con- 5 necting it to the tank. .These means are correlated Withlocking mechanisms which cooperate withthe valveginthel nozzle so that the nozzle valve cannotbe-opened until it is attached to the tankand also so ,that the nozzle cannot be disconnected from the tank until the nozzle Valve is closed.

*' lhe apparatus consists generally of ra tank baiting aninletshousingwith l'bayonet joint means and a lling'attachment which includes a sleeve 15 or; nozzle member.- An,outer bayonet joint or sleeve member .is .rotatably ymounted-,on the sleeve above mentioned. It has bayonet joint means on it;t o ,cooperate with thezbayonet joint means on the housingtosecurathe sleeve to thehousing.

Meansmounted ,on the,sleeveor nozzle prevent therotation thereof during its attachment vto the housing and there is a manuallyactuated valve inthe sleeve or, nozzle for,controlling fluid flow. Means are provided on the nozzle or sleeve which '25 prevent rthe vopenngf this valve before the,

nozzle oninner sleeveis sealed with the housing by .moving the .outer bayonet joint .or sleeve meinberlto.. engaged position. There are also means whichl prevent the` ,disengagement of this 3'0" nozzle lwhen the valve therein is open. These means .lock the outer sleeveorgbayonet joint member in engaged, position when the nozzle valveisin open position.,- .l

As shown in Eig...` `J. Lthere isa cylindrical memberuor,l valve l 0-w,h ich.is closed at. its terminal endllfandf` ported withglateral ports I2. Fins I3 arel vused to, vprpvide j-mechanicall rigidity.

The valvepnmembez-i slides within a cylindrical sleevemember Ain a telescopic` fashion.

'45 The memberll-I- S isjvcast of two separate halves joinednsshownifor ease of. assembly of the unit.

Thesendkof the member L5 adjacent the ter.-

minal-end rlI-.isprwicled lwith-a bayonet jointV memben or.. outer sleeve `member y i6, l which `enjoint. member l'lwhichds attached to the under sidefl'- .-,of the, aircrafty wing tank.

Anlaivrcrafttank-va1ve is provided in the ywing,

tank entendingthrqugh the under side I8 so that Icorte,Sponding(groove in themeinber I0. This Vcentering pin alignment feature, however, is

optional and is not necessary to the operation of the unit.

Valve closure member I9 normally seals the aircraft wing tank since spiral spring 22 exerts a pressure between the member I9 and the spider 23 to hold a gasket 24 rmly in place, thus sealing the valve opening.

Three guiding or locking pins 25 project outwardly from the cylindrical sleeve member I and fit into corresponding keyways 26 of the bayonet joint member I1. rIhese pins and corresponding keyways are preferably located equidistant one from the other around the periphery of the nozzle. When the nozzle is placed in position for sealing on the tank the engagement of the pins in the keyways 26 oi the bayonet joint member I1 prevents rotation of the cylindrical sleeve member I5 during attachment by means of the turning of the bayonet joint member or outer sleeve 6 which is rotatable about the sleeve member I5 into locking engagement with the member I1.

As shown, each pin 25 is threaded through member I5 into a wearing sleeve 21, which is disposed between the member I0 and the member I5 at their terminal ends.

A torsion spring 28 is provided between the member I5 and the bayonet joint member I6 to normally hold the member I6 in a disengaged position; that is, not in the position which it occupies when engaged or connected to member I1.

A bail type handle bell crank 30 extends from the member I5 ending in a bearing 3l which slidably engages guides 32 on the outer periphery of the member IO. As shown, when the bell crank 30 is moved to its downward position, indicated in dotted lines, the bearing 3| slides to the right in guides 32 forcing guides 32, and consequently the inner member I0, upwardly. This forces the valve member I9 inwardly and exposes the ports I2 and allows fuel to flow into or from the aircraft wing tank.

A safety interlocking device is provided. It consists of a pin 35 secured in the flange 36 which is formed on the lower end of the upper half of the member I5. rEhe butt end of the pin 35 rests against a portion of the bell crank 30, which is extended outwardly to form a cam or operator 31 as shown. The other end of the pin 35 is adapted to slide into a corresponding hole 3S in the bayonet joint member I6 when the member I6 is in its fully engaged position.

The lower end of the member I5 is threaded to receive a standard hose coupling and suitable gaskets are provided between various components of the nozzle. The gasket 39 provides a seal between the terminal end of the member I5 and the ring-shaped tank member surrounding the valve closure member I9, even though manufacturing tolerances result in a substantial variation in nt between these members. The construction of this gasket 39 ensures that when it is compressed it will not expand laterally to interfere with the operation of either the bayonet joint member I1 or the telescoping member I0.

All gaskets included in the various embodiments of this invention as disclosed and illustrated are preferably of a fluid-resistant synthetic rubber such as Thiokol for gasoline or Neoprene for oils.

The ports I2 are normally sealed within the outer member I5 by the wearing sleeve 21. The bayonet joint member I6 is normally held in its disengaged position by the torsion spring 28. The

combination of the cam 31, the pin 35, and the corresponding hole 38 prevents the bell crank 30 from being moved to open the nozzle when the parts are in this position. Conversely, once the bayonet joint members I6 and I1 are in fully engaged position the nozzle can be opened. When it is open, the cam 31 moves the pin 35 into the hole 38. As long as the nozzle remains open, this keeps the bayonet joint member from being moved to disengaged position, and it is only when bell crank lever 30 is moved to close the nozzle that the spring loaded valve member I9 can be opened and this only by external mechanical pressure such as is applied when the member I0 is forced upwardly.

Fig. 2 shows more detail of the bell crank 30 and the interlocking device between it and the bayonet joint member I6, all of which are mounted on the nozzle. A pin 40 extends through the lower end of the bail type handle of bell crank 30 through bearing 4I and the wall of member I5 and through one end or" pin crank member 42. The other end of the crank member 42 is secured to one end of a pin 43 on which the bearing 3l is mounted. The bearing 3I can rotate between the guides 32 as shown.

The pin 40 is secured to the inlet of the bell crank 30 and crank member 42 by any suitable means, such as keying. A gasket 64 is provided to seal iiuid within the nozzle. The bearing 45, which is preferably of brass, provides a bearing surface between members I0 and I5.

The interlocking pin 35 is of larger diameter at its butt end to retain a washer 4G thereon. A spiral spring 41 is positioned adjacent washer 46 and in the recessed portion of flange 35 to hold the pin 35 normally against the bell crank 30. As previously explained, the pin 35 can be forced into hole 38 in the bayonet joint member I8 by means of the cam portion 31 of the crank 30.

Fig. 3 shows more detail of the nozzle in cross section. It shows the interrelationship of the members I0 and I5 and the bell crank 30.

Fig. 4 shows in cross section details of the bayonet joint connection. The slots 55 are provided in the bayonet joint member l5. The lugs 5I of the bayonet joint member I'a' :dt into these slots. rlhe member I6 can then be rotated to its engaged position and it is held there by means of springs 52.

The member I6 is cast in two halves and suitably joined as shown for ease of assembly of the unit.

Fig. 5 shows the detailed construction of the spring 52 and the manner in which it holds the lug 5I in engaged position relative to the bayonet joint member I6, the hump on the spring serving as a stop.

It will be apparent that when this filling attachment or nozzle is used it provides all requisite safeguards for preventing leakage of the fuel. The valve in the tank keeps the tank closed against the loss of fuel. Until the nozzle is connected, the inner valve member Eil, which is employed to open the valve in the tank. cannot be moved to position to open the valve tank until the bayonet joint member I6 is moved to engaged position. The inner member l0 may then be forced into the tank to open the valve and expose its ports. However, there is no opportunity for loss of gasoline since the nozzle is connected to the tank by the bayonet joint. There is no danger of the nozzle being disconnected from the tank until the valve member I0 is moved to closed position. When this is done, the bayonet joint reenter per be release-d However, .Sippe the reir@ member l has beiretraeredthe valve' in @be tent is deSed eed ,Similarly the valve ih the noazle is closed so there can bene leakage of fuel. The nozzlei's a selfeOntained unit. `All of the necessary safety features for 'maintaining the nozzle 'in itsciosed positien until it is aoxei to tbe tank are included intl/iis unit. The tank unit can thus be made or minimum weight and all of the parts involvedl in the safetymecha-V nism remain on the nozzle, unit Where they may be 'easily serviced and inspected, thus eliminatille the necessity forr the Waste 0f time'V necessary for inspecting such units4 prior to fueling a plane which has landed for fuelingl and whichl may be. in a'hurry to leave. Furthermore. the parts, of the safety mechanism mounted exclusively on the nejzle'are. not Subject te injury er damage such as'they'might encounter were they mounted on a Plne' s I In Fig. 6 is shown an alternativeY embodiment of` 'thislinventiom inner cylindrical member 594 being ported at its terminalA end and sliding vgithin vouter member 6l as previously described. lldemoyement of bell crankK 62 causes*` ballbearing da to slide in guides 64: on the outer periphery of innermember 60, forcingI inner member 69 out of outer member 6| in a manner previously described. Spring loaded valve member 65 has secured above it a gasket 6MB of theshape shown, this` gasket because of its shape servingl asV a secondary seal for the aircraft Wing tankfvalve. nthis embodiment, dogsfllareutilized to ysecure the nozzle to the aircraft valve, thesedogs being shown in more detail in Fig. 7.

' in Fig. 7 is shown anotherV alternativeernbodiment of thisinvention in whicha relatively short inner member '50, similarly ported. atijtsV terminal end, hasits movement. controlled by a connecting'rod li connected to bell crank 12: Eellcrank 1251s also conpeetedby anpther connecting red '13. to iiap type valve 14,. rlfhree dogs 6j' areprovided around the periphery of outer member 75 these preferably being, spaced equirdietept' epe from the other, each dogbeing rigidly mounted on the upper end of a rod 'l6 'rod'l 6 initurnpbeing secured at its lower extremity to a one-tooth eear il. v

ier-er periphery 0fn Gellerv i8, enelwhen thenozrle.

is placed within the corresponding aperture ofy the aircraft enr and. collar 1r is rotated., doesn.

moveout to engage inner ring 89 whichris secured to the inner periphery ofthe apertnrethus se-` eurirrei -thererzle in pleee- Sprineloaeled seeker niemeer 8l is prrwieledv ee` shpwrlrwitbeaslrets. 8,2 Y

@meer to. sarthe, joint.

'The Operation ef theemberlirnepte ef Figs, 6.1 and 7 are similar to thatof Figgl an@ a, suitable Y interlocking device, similar to thatoflig. Lm'ay b provided'between the joint mechanisrn'and the valve Opening.meeherrisipiorriee, 6` andi. respectively. Numerous additienalapplications of the above-described principleswill" occurl tol those skilled in theart and no attempt has .here y been erede t0., exhaust, euch.- peeeibilities, The., Serieel er the, invention' iedelrleet Meefellewipe,

@leers- What isA claimed, is:

l. Apparatus of the'class describedcomprisingr innerer@ Outer Cylindrical. teleeeeping members;

said inner member including al closed'terminal end, ports around its lateral periphery adjacent saidl terminal end, and a pairA ofparallel, guides extending circumferentially.l around n its. y lateral periphery; a bayonetkjointmemberrotatablyfsee Gear llmeeheswith areeken they cured to the' terminal end of said` outer' member; restraining means for normally maintaining said bayonet Joint member in e disengaged. position; and a crank arm extending through the Wall of said outermember and ending in a bearing which s lidably engages said parallel guides for forcing said inner member out of said outer member as said crank arm is revolved to thereby expose said ports which are normally sealed by said einer member- 2.. Apparatus ofthe class describedl comprising inner and outer cylindrical telesooping members;v said inner member including ra closedk terminal endl. ports around its, lateral periphery adjacent. said terminal end', and a v pair of parallel guidesi extending circumferentially around its lateral periphery; a bayonet joint member rotatably.y secured to the terminal end of, said outer member.; a crank arm extending through the wall of said outer member and ending inv a bearing` which slidably engages said parallel guides forforcing.; said inner member out or said outer member as said crankarmy is revolved to thereby expose said ports which are normally sealed by saidv outer member; and a lockingfmember adjacent a cam; suriace on the,portionof'saidcrank arm without` saidC outer member; saidY bayonet joint member having an aperture;adaptedtoreceive said lock?. ing member whenl said joint memberiein a fully, engaged position; whereby said crank? arm can'` be. resolved only when said locking member ycan beV seated insaidaperture.

3; Apparatus of the. class?, described comprising.- inner and Aouter cylindrical,telescopingfmembers;e. said. inner member ineludinea closed terminal end, ports. around its lateralfperipherr adjacent. said terminal endtandraipairo parallel,guidesI4 allel guidesl for forcingx said inner; member out@ of said outer member as said cranioarm;isere-.-V

volved to thereby exposzei said-ports.whichvr are normally sealedA4 bysaid outer. member; anda locking member. adjacent a cam' surface.; on the-- portion of; said, cranl:` arm` Without; said; enten-- member; said bayonetzjoint vhaving an aperture; adapted to` receiver-.said` lockingv member when.

said-joint is ina, fullyengagedpsition; where;-

by. lsaidcrank: arm canabe revolved. only; when; saidllocking :member caniK be seateddn saidfaperff ture.-

4; A fueling nozzlencomprisingfin-ner andfouter.; cylindrical telescoping. members; member including:l a@ closed terminal end, portsA around itslateral' periphery adjacent said-r ter` minal end; abayonete joint;l member rotatably ber; a crankarm extendinglthroughthewall;

ber out of lsaidfoutepmemberas-:said.;'crank arm isl revolved to thereby: exposer saidportslv which# are normallysealedby'rsaidouter-membenand` avc-:am surface onthe portionof saidlcrank arm without said outer member; Aa camengaged'-lock, including meansl carried'by said bayonet joint member. adaptedr to be lockedionlywwhen said joint member is. in arfullyvvcngaged ppsition';H whereby said. crank.: arm` canbe, actuated; only,

said inner when the bayonet joint member is in fully engaged position. I

5. A fueling valve and nozzle comprising an inner member and an outer cylindrical telescoping sealing member, said inner member including a closed terminal end, and a pair of parallel guides extending circumferentially of its lateral periphery; and a crank extending through and pivoted in an aperture in the wall of said outer member and having an arm inside said outer member slidably engaging said parallel guides for forcing said inner member out of said outer member as said crank is revolved to thereby open said valve said crank having an arm outside said outer member for actuating said valve.

6. A filling attachment for tanks having an inlet housing comprising an inner sleeve adapted to be connected with a fluid supply and adapted to be detachably connected to the inlet housing of the tank, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having means cooperating with devices on said housing .for securing said inner sleeve in sealed engagement with the housing means for preventing rotation of said inner sleeve during the attachment lof the same to the housing, a manually actuated valve for controlling fiuid flow from said inner sleeve, and means for preventing the opening of said valve before said inner sleeve is in sealed engagement with said housing.

7. A filling attachment for tanks having an Yinlet housing comprising an inner sleeve adapted to be connected with a fluid supply and adapted to be detachably connected to the inlet housing of the tank, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve, said outer sleeve having means cooperating with devices on said housing for securing said inner sleeve in sealed engagement with the housing means for preventing rotation of said inner sleeve during the attachment of the same to the housing, a manually actuated valve for controlling fluid fiow from said inner sleeve, and means for preventing operation of the securing means for detaching the sleeve before said inner sleeve valve has been moved to closed position.

8. A filling attachment for tanks having an inlet housing comprising an inner sleeve adapted to be connected with a fluid supply and adapted to be detachably connected to the inlet housing of the tank, said sleeve having a valve seat, a valve adapted to engage said seat for controlling fiuid flow from said inner sleeve, a shaft mounted in said inner sleeve, means actuated by said shaft for moving said valve to and from closed position, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve, means carried by said outer sleeve and cooperating with devices on said housing for securing said inner sleeve in sealed engagement with the housing, manual means for turning said shaft for opening and closing the valve, and means associated with said outer sleeve for preventing the turning of the shaft for opening of the valve before said inner sleeve is in sealed engagement with said housing.

9. A filling attachment for tanks having an inlet housing comprising an inner sleeve adapted to be connected with a fluid supply and adapted to be detachably connected to the inlet housing of the tank, said inner sleeve having a valve seat, a valve adapted to engage said seat for controlling fluid iiow from said inner sleeve, a shaft mounted in said inner sleeve, means actuated by said shaft for moving said valve to and from closed position, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve, means carried by said outerI sleeve and cooperating with devices on said housing for securing said inner sleeve in sealed engagement with the housing, manual means for turning said shaft for opening and closing said valve, and means associated with said manual turning means for preventing operation of the outer sleeve for detaching the inner sleeve before said shaft has been turned so as to move the valve to closed position.

10. The combination of a tank having a housing secured to the bottom Wall thereof, said housing having an inlet opening and a depending sleeve concentric to said opening and spaced outwardly therefrom to provide a seating ledge, said sleeve having holding lugs at spaced intervals thereon and a nozzle attachment including an inner sleeve adapted to fit within the sleeve on the housing and make sealed engagement with said seating ledge, said inner sleeve being connected with a fluid supply, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted on said inner sleeve and having means adapted to cooperate with said lugs on the housing sleeve for holding said inner sleeve in sealed engagement with the housing and a stop for limiting the rotation of the outer sleeve, and means for preventing rotation of said inner sleeve during attachment of the same to the housing, a valve mounted in said inner sleeve for controlling fluid flow from the inner sleeve to the tank, a shaft mounted in said inner sleeve, means actuated by the shaft for moving said valve to and from closed position and manual means for turning said shaft.

ll. A nozzle unit for filling tanks comprising a conduit adapted to be connected with a fluid supply line and to engage a tank inlet, a valve teescopically disposed in said conduit comprising a telescoping member having a closed terminal end and side ports and adapted to be moved telescopically between a closed position Within said conduit and an open position in which it projects from said conduit to expose said side ports, actuating means for said valve comprising a lever disposed externally of and on said conduit and movable between an open and a closed position, and means connecting said actuating means with said valve for moving the same between an open and a closed position when said actuating means are moved between open and closed positions, a coupling member movably mounted on and externally of said conduit for movement between an uncoupled position and a coupled position, said coupling member being adapted to engage coupling means associated with a tank inlet, first locking means mounted entirely on said conduit and actuating means and positioned to lock said valve in closed position, rst holding means mounted on said coupling member positioned to engage and hold said first locking means in position to look said valve in closed position when said coupling means is in uncoupled position, second locking means mounted entirely on said conduit and said coupling member and positioned to lock said coupling member in full coupled position and second holding means mounted on said actuating means and positioned to hold said second locking means in position to lool: coupling member in full coupled position when said actuating means are away from closed position.

l2. A nozzle unit for flliing tanks comprising a conduit adapted to be connected with a fluid supply line and to engage a tank inlet, a valve disposed in said conduit and adapted to be moved between a closed position and an open position, actuating means for said valve disposed externally oi and on said conduit and movable between an open and a closed position, and means connecting said actuating means with said valve for moving the same between an open and a closed position when said actuating means are moved between open and closed positions, a coupling member movably mounted on and externally of said conduit for movement between an uncoupled position and a coupled position, said coupling member being adapted to engage coupling means associated with a tank inlet, rst locking means mounted entirely on said conduit and actuating means and positioned to lock said valve in closed position, rst holding means mounted on said coupling member positioned to engage and hold said rst locking means in position to lock said valve in closed position when said coupling means is in uncoupled position, second locking means mounted entirely on said conduit and said coupling member and positioned to lock said coupling member in full coupled position and second holding means mounted on said actuating means and positioned to hold said second locking means in position to lock said coupling member in full coupled position when said actuating means are away from closed position.

JAMES COOLIDGE CARTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date OLeary June 23, 1896 Butler Oct. 16, 1906- Lamaouroux Sept. 10, 1907 Landau Feb. 25, 1908 McGinley June 9, 1908 Brown Nov. 9, 1909 Rowe Aug. 24, 1920 Bean, Jr Sept. 12, 1922 McNeill Aug. 21, 1923 Terry Sept. 19, 1933 Wheaton Dec. 31, 1935 Green June 30, 1942 Koehn Feb. 13, 1945 Morrow et al Feb. 27, 1945 Krone et al Sept. 11, 1945 Hoifman Dec. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland of 1929 Germany Nov. 23, 1937 

